Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B33: Packaging requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

18 June 1976 

Publication where the measure is specified

Laws of Botswana Chapter 74:06 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Sorghum (Classification and Grading) Regulations (Chapter 74:06) 

Country/Region applying the measure

Botswana 

The rationale of the measure

No specific objective stated 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

9. Packing of sorghum
(1) Sorghum shall either be bought or sold or bought and sold by the Board either in bulk or in grain bags.
(2) Grain bags in which sorghum is either bought or sold or bought and sold shall be new or good second-hand grain bags which-
(a) are manufactured from jute or phormium or jute and phormium;
(b) have a superficial measurement of not less than 7484 cm2 and not more than 8065 cm2 and which have been woven with porter and shot (warp and weft threads) of not less than-
(i) in the case of jute bags and jute-and-phormium bags, 32 warp and 32 weft threads per 100 mm;
(ii) in the case of phormium bags, 36 warp and 40 weft threads per 100 mm;
(iii) in the case of B-Twill bags, 24 warp and 32 weft threads per 100 mm;
(c) are strong enough for the conveyance of 100 kg net sorghum and are not so weathered or worn that they will break during normal handling, or, when empty, will tear if one end is held down with the flat heel and the other end is pulled by hand;
(d) be clean and not stained by any colouring substance or impregnated by any liquid capable of imparting stains, excluding trade marks or normal discolouration due to exposure to the sun;
(e) be free from holes but may be darned with twine of which the tensile strength shall be not less than 40 newtons or patched where necessary:
Provided that-
(i) none of the darns shall exceed 26 cm2 and that such darns shall overlap the small holes on all sides by at least 13 mm;
(ii) the darns shall be cross-stitched by hand with jute twine or machine-darned in such a manner that the darns correspond in closeness to the weave of the bag and that the material of the bag is not pulled together, thereby causing the snapping or displacement of the strands of the bag or the darns when the bag is filled with sorghum;
(iii) except for not more than two patches (one on each side) of not more than 38 mm by 254 mm each allowed at the mouth of the bag to cover cuts and affixed as indicated in paragraph (v), none of the other patches shall exceed 39 cm2;
(iv) patches, whether stitched or affixed with an adhesive, shall not overlap;
(v) patches shall be properly hand-sewn to the bags with jute twine or properly machine-darned over the entire surface of the patch with twine, the tensile strength of which shall be not less than 40 newtons;
(vi) patches affixed with an adhesive shall be properly affixed and will not be allowed to be closer than 150 mm from the mouth of the bag; and
(vii) bags of which the mouth sections have been replaced shall not be acceptable. 

Reference of the measure

Article 9 

Measure also domestic

No 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Grain sorghum 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries and regions